Sheet-end signaling device



1, 1939. w. J. ENGLISH 2, 95

SHEET-END SIGNALING DEVICE Filed July 18, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTO R NEYS A 1, 1939. w. J. ENGLISH 2,168,195

SHEET-END SIGNALING DEVICE Filed July 18, 1938 2 Sheet-Sheet 2 INVENTORATTO R N EYS Patented Aug. 1, 1939 SHEET-END SIGNALING DEVICE WeberJames English, Elgin, Oreg. Application July 18, 1938, Serial No.219,885

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in signaling devices for use inconjunction with machines employing sheet paper or the like, such asadding machines, typewriters and similar devices. The invention isparticularly directed to improvements' in signaling means, forindicating approach of end of sheet paper or the like fedin saidmachine.

It is among the disadvantages of, typewriters and adding machines -oftypes presently in use that the operator of the machine often is unawareof the approach of the end of the sheet of paper being used in themachine and accordingly when the machine is a typewriter, the last lineon the page is. frequently misprinted, necessitating retyping of theentire sheet. Another disadvantage of machine of the type mentioned isthat the operator is required to exercise judgment as to the position ofthe sheet end within the machine and is without means for ascertainingexactly how much space is left at the bottom of the sheet, as the sheetend approaches the typing mechanism. V

It is among the more important objects of the present invention toprovide means for visibly and audibly signaling approach of sheet end inmachines such as typewriters, adding machines or the like, whereby theoperator thereof is provided with visible indication of the usefullength of paper remaining in the machine together with an audible signalas the sheet end approaches the portion of the paper being used.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a visual andaudible signaling means of the type hereinabove referred to which shallinclude means for audibly indicating to the operator, the approach ofthe sheet end toward the portion of the sheet being typed upon and whichalso includes means which are adjustable to suitrequirements ofdifferent users for visually indicating useful length of paper remainingin the machine.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a sheetend signaling mechanism for performing the functionshefeinbeforereferred to which comprises relatively few parts, all ofwhich are suited to the requirementsof mass production and which can bereadily and easily assembled to form the device without employment ofskilled labor whereby resultant economies in cost of manufacture arereflected in low initial cost of the signaling device.

Noteworthy among the features of the device according to the instantinvention are its simplicity and ruggedness of constructionwherebyinstallation and repair of the device is facilitated and lengthof useful life at least materially increased.

An important advantage of the signaling means according'to the presentinvention is its relatively small bulk and compact structure whereby thesignaling and indicating apparatus can be pro vided upon a typewritenadding machine or the like, without substantially altering theappearance or bulk thereof.

Other objects, advantages and features of the device according to thepresent invention will be apparent to'those skilled in the art duringthe course of the following description.

' Regarded in certain of its broader aspects, the present inventioncomprises, in combination with 'a machine having a shaft rotating at aspeed proportional to the rate of feeding of sheet. materialtherethrough, of a bushing periodically engageable and rotatable 'withsaid shaft, visual and audible signaling means actuable by rotation ofsaid bushing, and means controlled by movement of end of sheet materialfed through said machine for operably connecting said bushing,

and said shaft.

In order to facilitate a fuller and more complete understanding of thepresent invention, a specific embodiment thereof will be hereinafterdescribed, it being clearly understood, however, that the illustratedembodiment is given solely by way of example and is non-limitative uponthe scope of the present invention, except as expressed in the subjoinedclaims. I

Referring then to the drawings:

Figure 1 is substantially a top plan view of the now preferredembodiment of the present invention shown in conjunction with aconventional typewriter mechanism, parts of which are broken away forclearness of illustration.

Figures 2 and 3 are substantially vertical sectional views of Figure 1,taken along the lines 2-2 and 3-3 respectively.

Figure 4 is essentially a vertical sectional view of Figure 1, takenalong the line 4-4.

Figure 5 is substantially a fragmentary detail view of a modified formof feeler mechanism,

and

Figures 6 and 7 are fragmentary plan views and elevationai viewsrespectively of a still further form or feeler mechanism.

Referring now particularly to Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, wherein thepresently preferred form of the instant invention is best illustrated,it will be noted that a conventional typewriter mechanism generallydesignated by the numeral I0 shown in Figure 4, whereby the portedwithin the casing but rotative movement and including frame members Iand I2, rotatably supporting a shaft l3 carrying a sheetfeeding platenroller I4, is provided with a casing generally designated by the numeral20, mounted on one of the frame elements l2. The casing is hollow andsubstantially cylindrical in shape and is mounted concentric aprojecting end portion of the shaft l3, substantially as shown in Figure1, the end portion of the shaft l3 extending beyond the casing 20 andcarrying an actuating roller |5 for facilitating manual rotation of saidshaft. A slot-like opening 22 formed in the side 2| of the casing 20,extends across approximately half of the casing side and is normallypartially masked by a segmental cylindrical side portion 23 of thecasing end cap 24, the latter being frictionally engaged with sides 2|of the casing 20, whereby said casing end cap 24 can be moved relativeto the casing sides to increase or diminish the portion of the opening22 which is masked by the member 23.

Referring now particularly to Figures 2, 3 and 4, it willbe noted that ahub 39 substantially fixedly mounted upon and rotatable with the endportion of the axle l3, being attached thereto 1 by fastening means 3|,carries a disc 32 freely rotatably mounted upon a 'portion of said huband held in position preventing axial movement by means including acollar 33 attached to a part of the hub. The disc 32 is normally rotatedby rotation of the shaft l3 through means including the collar 33attached to the bushing which engages with a spring pressed segmentalarm 35 pivoted on the pin 36 mounted in the disc 32 and having aprojecting portion 31 adapted to rest against and engage' with parts ofthe periphery of the collar 33 under tension of the spring 38 mounted inthe standard 39. Rotation of the disc 32 in conjunction with the shaft|3 by frictional engagement of the arm 35 with the collar 33 asaforesaid is limited by engagement of stops 40 and 4| with the rollerend portion 43 of the pivoted arm 44 mounted on a shaft 45 and movablewithin the casing 20 as will be hereinafter described.

being pressed in engagement therewith by means of a sleeve 5|frictionally engaging with a portion of said sleeve and abutting againsta bell 52 and parts of the end cap 24 substantially as hell 52 issupthereof is at least largely precluded. The sleeve 5| carries a disc53 mounted on the distal end thereof and radially extending toward butnot touching the bell 52.

A cam arm pivotally mounted by means including the pin 6| on the disc53, is provided with a stop member 63 fixedly attached thereto andslidable within a slot 64 formed in the disc 53 substantially as shownin Figure 3. A resilient spring-like member 85 mounted on the oppositeside of the disc 53 normally presses the stop 63 toward the shaft l3whereby the end portion 66 of the arm 60 is positioned adjacent portionsof the hub 50. It is to be noted that the opposite end of the arm 60carries a resilient weighted clapper 61 which, upon occasion, is adaptedto strike against and ring the bell 52 as will be hereinafter described.The cam arm 60 is actuated by means including a projecting thereon andextending concentric the projecting end portion of the shaft l3 wherebythe bell 52 and elements associated therewith are obscured from view ofan observer looking through the opening 22 formed in the casing 20. Inthe preferred embodiment of the instant invention, half or a differentsegmental portion of the exposed surface of the sleeve or cylindricalmember 29 visible through the opening 22 is visually distinct from theremainder of said member whereby rotation of said member within thecasing can be readily observed through the opening 22. It is alsopreferred that indicia 28 be provided on the cylindrical member 29 whichcan be exposed in the portion of the opening 22 masked by the member 23hereinbefore described.

The means for controlling rotation of the disc 32 and associated memberswill now be described, reference being made particularly to Figures 1and 2. The arm 44 mounted on the shaft 45 is rotatable, and uponoccasion, engages with the stops 49 and 4| hereinbefore referred to. Theshaft 45 carrying the arm 44 is freely rotatably mounted in portions ofthe frame element 2 and, at the end, in an arm 10 attached to a rod 1|forming-a portion of the machine frame. A V-shapeii feeler 12 mountedupon and rotatable with the shaft 45 is adapted to rest in a slot-likeopening 14 formed in a portion of the feeding plate or table 15. It isto be understood that thev-shaped feeler member 12' is weighted orspring pressed whereby it normally assumes the position shown in Figure2 and when so positioned is at rest against edge portions of the slot 14formed in the feeding table 15. When the feeler 12 is at rest positionas aforesaid, the arm 44 carried on the shaft 45 is positioned wherebythe roller end portion 43 of said arm engages with the stop 40 carriedon the disc 32 whereby rotation of the platen roller results in onlylimited rotation of the disc 32. It is preferred that when the stop 40is positioned against the arm end portion 43 as illustrated in Figure 2,a visually distinct surface area of the cylindrical member 29 bedisplayed through the opening 22 of the casing 20.

In operation, a sheet of paper or the like, positioned on, the feedingplate 15 and fed toward the platen roller l4, causes the feeler 12 to beraised thereby imparting counter-clockwise rotative motion to the shaft45 and moving the roller end portion 43 out of engagement with the stop40. When the platen roller I4 is rotated to advance the sheet materialin the machine, the disc 32 is rotated by-frictional engagement of thespring pressed pivoted arm 35 with the collar 33, the rotation'of saiddisc 32" revolution whereby a surface of different visual effect ispresented through the opening 22 of the casing 20. when the'sheet endpasses under the feeler l2 and moves toward the platen roller l4,gravity acting upon said feeler member causes clockwise rotation thereofwith concomitant rotation of the shaft 45 whereby the roller end portion43 of the arm 44 is moved out of engagement with the stop 4|, thuspermitting rotative motion of the disc 32 and associated elements untilthe stop 40 again engages with the roller end portion 43 of the arm 44.However, during the movement of the disc 32 between engagement of the,stop 4| with the arm end portion and engagement of the stop 40 withsaid am end portion, the half-round rod 59 carried on the pivoted arm 35engages with and actuatesthe audible signaling means by tripping thespring pressed cam arm 59 mounted on the disc 53, whereby the clapper 51is struck against the bell 52.

It will be noted that rotation of the disc 32 results in rotation of theindicia bearing cylindrical member 29, accordingly inasmuch as rotationof the disc 32 after disengagement of the roller end 43 of the arm 44from the stop 4| results from passage of the sheet end portion under thefeeler I2, the rate of rotation of the cylindrical member 29 will bedirectly proportional to the rate of travel of the sheet end portionaround the platen roller. It will be evident that the indicia 28 carriedon the cylindrical member 29 can upon occasion be masked partially ortotally by the member 23 attached to the end'cap 24 of the casing 20 ashereinbefore described. Accordingly it is possible to visually indicatethe portion of useful space of paper or sheet material remaining in themachine, and to adjust same to provide uniform bottom margins. It is tobe noted that the audible signaling means being mounted upon the end cap24 of the casing 29 is moved when the mask 23. is rotated within thecasing, accordingly the time interval between actuation of the audiblesignaling means and predetermined ending point on the sheet relative tothe actual end thereof is maintained substantially unaltered uponadjustment of the device. I

In Figure 5, a modified form of feeler arm is illustrated, it beingunderstood that other parts of thedevice are substantially ashereinbefore described. In this embodiment of the instant invention, theshaft 45 is provided with an arm 89 mounted thereon and having ahemi-circular end portion 8| projecting upwardly through a slot 82formed in thesheet feeding plate 83. It is to be understood thatsuitable means are provided for maintaining the arm in position as shownin Figure 5. For example, spring pressing means, weights or the like canbe employed to tend to impart counterclockwise rotative motion of theshaft 45. A paper feeding guide, preferably a resilient spring-likesheet 84 mounted on a rod 95 attached to portions of the machine frame,presses sheet material positioned on the feeding plate 83 into contactwith the hemicircular end portion 8| of the arm 89, whereby said arm isdepressed thereby imparting clockwise rotative motion to the arm 86mounted on the shaft 45. It is to be understood that the arm 89 issubstantially equivalent to the arm 44 referred to in the hereinbeforedescribed embodiment of the instant invention.

It will of course be apparent that the positions of the stops 4!! and 4iwill be interchanged in this embodiment of the instant invention.'inasmuch as engagementof sheet material with the feeler results inclockwise rotation of the shaft 1 45 in the embodiment of the inventionshown in Figure 5, as contrasted to. the embodiment of the inventionshown in Figure 2, wherein engagement of sheet material with the feeler12 results in counterclockwise rotation of the shaft.

A still further modified form of feeler arm is illustrated in Figures 6and '7, this type being especially suited for use in machine requiringrelatively large clearance space between feeler arm and feeding plate.In this embodiment of the invention, a U-shaped rod 90-, having bent endportions 9| and 92 journalled in parts 93 and 94 of the machine frame,carries a feeler member generally designated by the numeral 95.Referring now particularly to Fig. 7, it will benoted that the feelermember comprises a segmental T-shaped element 95 pivotally mounted onthe rod 99 and partially receivable in a slotlike opening 91 formed inthe feeding plate 98.-

An arm 99 mounted on the shaft 92 functions substantially as does thearm 44 in the first described embodiment of this invention. It is to benoted in this connection that the feeler means illustrated in Fig. 7,when in use, results in munterclockwise rotation of the shaft 92similarly as does actuation of the feeler 12 here- I inbefore referredto.

An important advantage of the feelers of the types described is thatwhen upon occasion, it

is desired to retract the sheet material within the machine, thereturning edge portion of the material merely raises the feeler and doesnot result in tearing or damaging of the sheet material.

It is to be understood that this improvement is capable of extendedapplication and is not confined to the exact showing of the drawings norto the precise construction described and, therefore, such changes andmodifications may be made therein as do not afiect the spirit of theinvention nor exceed the scope thereof as expressed in the appendedclaims.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In a device of the type described including a supporting frame, ashaft freely rotatably mounted in said frame, a sheet-feeding platenroller carried on said shaft and rotatable therewith, a sheet tableadjacent and cooperating with said roller, visible sheet-end signalingmeans comprising a hollow substantially cylindrical casing mounted onsaid frame concentric a projecting end portion of said shaft; arotatable bushing frictionally mounted on said projecting shaft end andpositioned within said casing; visual signaling means, actuated byrotation of said bushing; frictional coupling means for facilitatingsimultaneous rotation ofsaid bushing and said shaft end; and meanscontrolled by passage of a sheet-end across said sheet table forpermitting and, upon occasion, limiting rotation of said bushingbysaid'shaft, said means comprising a rocker rod rotatably supported inparts of said frame adjacent said table, feeler arms, attached to saidrodand extending therefrom, engaging with sheet-ends whereby rockingmotion is imparted to said rod by passage of a sheet-end across saidtable, and an arm carried on said rod engaging with stops on saidbushing for holding said bushing against rotation by said shaft exceptfor an interval immediately subsequent to rocking of said rod.

2. In a device of the type-described includinz 75 bushing frictionallymounted on said projecting shaft end and positioned within said casing;a supported bell, a cooperating spring pressed clapper, and an arm onsaid bushing for'tripping said-clapper and ringing said bell; frictionalcoupling means facilitating simultaneous rota-- tion\ of said bushingand said shaft end; and means controlled by passage of a sheet-endacross said sheet-table'for permitting and, upon occasion, limitingrotation of said bushing by said shaft, said means comprising a rockerrod rotatably supported in; parts of said frame adjacent said table,feeler arms, attached to said rod and extending therefrom, engaging withsheet-ends whereby rocking motion is imparted to said rod by passage ofa sheet-end across said table, and an arm carried onsaid rod engagingwith stops on said bushing for holding said bushing against rotation bysaid shaft except for an interval immediately subsequent to rocking ofsaid rod.

3. In a device of the type described including a supporting frame, ashaft freely rotatably mounted in said frame, a sheet-feeding platenroller carried on said shaft and rotatable therewith, a sheet tableadjacent to and cooperating I with said roller, visiblesheet-endsignaling means comprising a hollow substantially cylindricalcasing mounted on said frame concentric a projecting end portion of saidshaft; a rotatable bushing frictionally mounted on said projecting shaftend and positioned within said casing; visual signaling means, actuatedby rotation of said bushing, comprising a hollow cylindrical member,mounted on and rotating with said bushing, having a plurality ofvisually distinct areas successively exposable through a window in saidcasing for indicating rotation of said bushing; frictional couplingmeans facilitating simultaneous rotation of said bushing and said shaftend, comprising a spring pressed arm, pivotally mounted on said bushing.Dressing against and engaging with parts of said shaft; and meanscontrolled by passage of a sheet-endacross said sheet table forpermitting and, upon occasion, limiting rotation of said bushing by saidshaft, said means comprising a rocker rod rotatably supported in partsof said frame adjacent said table, feeler arms, attached to said rod andextending therefrom, engaging with sheet-ends whereby rocking motionis'imparted to said rod by passage of a sheet end across said table, andan arm carried on said rod engaging with stops on said bushing forholding said bushing against rotation by said shaft except for aninterval immediately subsequent to rocking of said rod.

WEBER JAMES ENGLISH.

